Retailer Fined For Selling Recalled Outerwear

Drawstrings "Can Result In Serious Injury Or Death"

Jul 31, 2012 – by Counselor

Burlington Coat Factory has agreed to pay a record $1.5 million fine to settle allegations from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that the retailer knowingly sold children's clothing with drawstrings. According to the CPSC, Burlington sold children's sweatshirts and jackets with drawstrings at the neck from 2003 to 2010, which is against federal regulations. The agency said such drawstrings "can result in serious injury or death."

The CPSC also alleged Burlington Coat "knowingly sold and had inventory of" recalled garments at stores across the country from 2008 to 2012, which would violate federal law. While the CPSC said the penalty was the largest ever involving "children's upper outerwear with drawstrings," as part of the settlement Burlington admitted no liability and said it knew of no injuries related to the clothing in question.

In 2006, CPSC's Office of Compliance announced that children's upper outerwear with drawstrings at the hood or neck would be "regarded as defective and presenting a substantial risk of injury." Last year, the agency went even further. As of July 2011, CPSC issued a federal regulation that designated children's upper outerwear with drawstrings as substantial product hazards and should not be sold.